12 LTTE fighters killed in Sri Lanka: Army

At least 12 LTTE fighters were killed in fierce clashes with government troops in northern Sri Lanka, military officials said today.Sri Lankan soldiers killed 12 Tamil Tigers and injured 13 in fresh clashes in the areas of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Welioya yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.According to sources in the Media Centre for National Security, 17 security personnel were injured in the clashes.Sri Lanka's ruling coalition yesterday won control of two provincial councils in an election seen as an endorsement of President Mahinda Rajapksas hardline military policy against the LTTE.In the 33-member North Central provincial council the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition won 20 seats as it also captured 25 seats on the 44-member Sabaragamuwa council.The main opposition United National Party (UNP) won a total of 29 seats on the two councils, while the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) got just three seats.Renewed clashes on Saturday on the northern front killed at least 30 rebels and three soldiers, military officials said.Reports of fighting have increased in recent months amid government's declaration to crush the group by the end of the year.Fighting, which has escalated in the past two years, further flared after the government in January pulled out of the 2002 cease-fire pact with the rebels.The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent state for the minority ethnic Tamils, alleging marginalization of the community for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalas.